Latest / Real. Guy. Pods. / AJ Lee’s Big Return, WM43 in Saudi Arabia, & WWE’s Pricey Future | The Still Real to Us Show | Episode #813 – 09/11/25

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AJ Lee’s Big Return, WM43 in Saudi Arabia, & WWE’s Pricey Future | The Still Real to Us Show | Episode #813 – 09/11/25 · Real. Guy. Pods.

• 1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,580 It's still real to me, damn it! 2 00:00:02,580 --> 00:00:11,680 [music] 3 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:12,960 What up, you! 4 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:15,440 [music] 5 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:17,440 Welcome, everybody! 6 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:25,160 Welcome to this week's And This Are This Oh Real Love Show, episode number 813 for September 11, 2025. 7 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:29,360 Welcome to this week's edition of SRTU. 8 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:35,840 I am one after the show, I am Jeff Peck, joined every single week of my course, you're 9 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:37,840 on the lead, Dr. Craig Franklin. 10 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:40,960 Dr. Trey, you could interpret this many different ways. 11 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:43,920 Are you ready to light it up, my friend? 12 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:51,280 Um, well, we're already in RVD Matt Rittle, come back, like, what are we? 13 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:54,560 I know the song, I know you're referring to, but I just want to make sure that's where we're going, 14 00:00:54,560 --> 00:01:00,640 we're not talking about, like, we're going all 420 friendly on an episode for, you know, 15 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:07,920 on a special episode, we're not going to be like, "Hey, let's watch ECW December to remember 16 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:10,640 while we're high." I just want to make sure that's where we're going. 17 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:14,800 No, no, no, it has something totally different, and you kind of alluded to it, but hell, 18 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:19,360 I was going to throw an open-ended question and see what the interpretation was, more on that in 19 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:26,640 just a second, a pre-show, Dr. Trey and I, uh, kind of going into a weathercast, talking about the 20 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:31,760 fall, weather changes that are going on, and Dr. Trey, you're, your Southern gentleman. 21 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:40,080 So you are not typically accustomed to the North version of fall, but are you a fall guy? 22 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:43,360 Like, are you, are you pumpkin spice lattes and flannels? 23 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:51,760 I mean, I'm not a pumpkin spice and flannel type guy, but I look at, like, you've known me for 24 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:59,920 a very long time when you first met me. I, I was a very large man. I was a very big boy, 25 00:01:59,920 --> 00:02:09,200 and I don't like extreme heat. I don't like when it's really hot. So anytime I can get into a position 26 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:16,960 where it's like, oh, I can kind of cover up, the weather's kind of nice. I'm not sweating anywhere 27 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:23,680 that I shouldn't be sweating. I'm perfectly happy. So give me fall, give me winter, give me spring, 28 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:30,960 I'm, I'm anti-summer nowadays. Yeah, and, and your fall is not like my fall. Like, what time, 29 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:33,600 when do your leaves fall typically like early January? 30 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:41,120 No, actually, it fell off my trees like last, I have one tree and I swear it just said, 31 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:46,080 summer's been too much. We're just going to dump all the leaves now. So I have one tree that just 32 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:54,960 dumped everything last week, but typically like around end of September, October, my leaves in my 33 00:02:54,960 --> 00:03:01,920 my property cart are coming down. So, I mean, we like, our fall though really lasts about four 34 00:03:01,920 --> 00:03:07,120 weeks. We got from summer and then there's about a four week cooling up period and then we're into 35 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:12,800 southern winter, which is basically, I guess, kind of like what a northern fall is like highs in 36 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:18,800 the 40s and 50s lows in the 20s. Yeah, that's, that's a good way to put it. Like the northern fall is, 37 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:25,840 is basically your moderate time, I guess it would be. So, yeah, that's what we like getting 38 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:33,280 on November and then late February, March timeframe is what you refer to as your winter. None of the 39 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:39,360 less. We'll pick that up on weathercast that'll be dropping soon on patreon.com/srtuponcast. 40 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:46,800 I was about to say we've been teasing weathercast for like a decade. Maybe we should actually 41 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:52,240 put that on Patreon one day. We should do that. We should just talk weather for, I don't know how 42 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:56,960 long we can probably longer than we think and we'll put that up on the Patreon page and that is 43 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:01,680 your way to support the podcast folks. If you're not a subscriber over the Patreon page, please go there, 44 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:08,080 support the show. You get this show immediately after it's available to download ad free along with 45 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:12,480 many other exclusives. You've got SRTU classics. You've got interviews that I did with Dolph 46 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:18,000 Singular that'll be dropping soon and then patreon only show of viewers choice. It'll be up on 47 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:24,560 Patreon at some point this month and so much more over at patreon.com/srtuponcast. The easiest way 48 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:30,640 to support Dr. Trey and I as we do this podcast each and every week for 813 straight weeks, 49 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:39,040 almost fully 16 straight years of doing this show. Not missing a week whatsoever. Dr. Trey said 50 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:46,160 at the beginning there it's time to light it up and if you watch Clash in Paris, you felt that the 51 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:51,360 return was inevitable. It definitely started to speed up after Clash in Paris and then we saw the 52 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:57,760 return on Friday night in Chicago. It was basically reminded me of when AW tip their hand and was like, 53 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:04,400 you should really watch this show when punk returned at rampage. They did not make any bones about it. 54 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:09,360 This is going to be a memorable show. You should tune in. You're going to be talking about it and 55 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:15,120 they deliver as AJ Lee returned to world wrestling entertainment for the first time in nearly 10 56 00:05:15,840 --> 00:05:23,440 years. She signed a multi year deal since this is obviously your first contract back with the company 57 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:28,160 since the 2015 retirement. There are a lot of potential dream matches on deck. We'll see you now 58 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:33,360 on the ring with Becky Lynch. This is a huge boost for the women's division and star power merch sales. 59 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:39,680 However, you want to look at it and this could help bring some some bridging of the gap to 60 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:44,320 storylines that see him punk is involved in like the one we're currently seeing. So I ask you this Dr. 61 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:50,560 Tre how does AJ Lee's return reshape the women's division in WWE and long term storytelling? 62 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:58,400 I mean right now it's kind of like whenever they brought lead a back and when they brought church 63 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:07,360 back like this is kind of that you know mid to 20 you know right around 2010 2015. She was everybody's 64 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:14,960 favorite female wrestler like at that time so it ties in really well with that because it brings 65 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:22,560 a look you know those you know 25 30 year old females back into the WWE fold as far as wrestling 66 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:30,240 fandom. It bridges the gap between the new generation and the generation that you know Nikki 67 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:37,200 Belich came from as well so that it ties that Lisa Deva's era to what we have now and it does it 68 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:43,600 creates a lot of potential dream matches. AJ Lee is one of the most gifted for female wrestlers 69 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:49,840 I've ever seen when it comes to being able to switch from e-eel to babyface like we all love her 70 00:06:49,840 --> 00:06:57,360 maniacal craziness as a eel but she was super over the babyface also so the fact that as her 71 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:05,040 contract runs through like there's just a bunch of different stuff that you can tie her into like 72 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:10,240 you know people forget you know her character was dating Daniel Bryan who you know married 73 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:15,600 Brey and one of my favorite storylines ever was the rivalry between AJ Lee and Nikki and Brey 74 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:22,400 Belich when she said you know obviously talent is not sexually transmitted like some of that stuff was 75 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:30,240 so good uh it lines up a lot of stuff I mean AJ Lee and Charlotte Flair we've never seen that AJ Lee 76 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:37,200 and Alexa Bliss like and those are just stars not to mention like AJ Lee and Rhea at some point AJ Lee 77 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:43,680 and Eo AJ Lee and Tiffany like some of those ones are just like yes like sign me up to see how those 78 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:50,960 rivalries play out because the promos in those should be fantastic as well. You kind of forget how 79 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:57,520 good she was from like 2011 to 15 maybe even like 2012 timeframe when she was the general manager of raw 80 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:03,440 one time always involved in major storylines was interacting with punk Daniel Bryan Kane Johnson who 81 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:09,680 were were very big at that period of time um think she had the wedding angle on the one thousand 82 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:16,960 edition of Monday Night Raw she was a very impactful player in WWE for a period of time and was 83 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:23,520 certainly on the cusp of being a potential household name and then all the stuff with punk went down 84 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:30,880 she left the company retired uh stuck around for a little bit got married to him and never really 85 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:35,120 thought she she returned a professional raster I think the best case in area for me Dr. Trey it would 86 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:41,840 be like one or two matches at best but for her to sign a multi year deal really opens up the potential 87 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:47,680 explorations of what could be on the surface for her career like I'm already envisioning if I'm 88 00:08:47,680 --> 00:08:53,520 predicting WrestleMania right now I'm thinking AJ Lee versus Bayley AJ Lee versus Roxanne Perez the 89 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:59,360 people that were very closely tied to her and heavily influenced by her career now in WWE with the 90 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:04,320 opportunity to wrestle her like that's a storyline main in itself. What will be intriguing about this 91 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:11,040 is that some point in my mind unless Becky Lynch remains as a regular contributor to the vision 92 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:17,840 stable which at this point in time leads me to believe she is how do we get AJ Lee off of punk at 93 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:21,840 some point how do we get even Becky Lynch off of Seth wrongs which can be discussed in the 94 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:26,400 litter tub but the AJ Lee punk thing at some point even though they're married they kind of have to 95 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:30,560 go their separate ways I feel like they can't they can't be tied together forever she's not going 96 00:09:30,560 --> 00:09:35,840 to be a valet for him he's not going to be a valet for her there is no intergender tag team titles 97 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:40,240 right now it's not like they could tag team forever they're not going to do a stable probably at 98 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:45,440 this point in their career that to me is the interesting point where we've got rest of pollusa makes a 99 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:49,760 ton of sense to bring her back but at some point I feel like she has to do her own thing and doesn't 100 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:55,520 need to be tied to her real life husband. I mean the easiest thing is kind of like we've seen them do 101 00:09:55,520 --> 00:10:02,080 with other characters where it's like you know let's say she wins the intercontinental title 102 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:09,200 and somebody attacks her well then that moves her away from punk because that's not tied into 103 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:15,520 the vision storyline you know or you know it's it's going to be something like that where something 104 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:20,560 takes her focus off of Becky so obviously with this intergender match at some point you're going to 105 00:10:20,560 --> 00:10:26,640 have a one on one match with AJ and Becky AJ wins the intercontinental title and then you know 106 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:31,520 Roxana attacks her because she's more concerned about what they've been intercontinental title than 107 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:39,520 anything AJ has going on well then that now branches AJ off into a rivalry with you know with Roxana 108 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:44,240 and Raquel and then Liv comes back into the mix and then you got a whole different dynamic as well. 109 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:48,880 So I mean there are ways of moving it to separate them and then they can always come back to you. 110 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:54,720 We saw you know a couple years ago when when Becky and Seth were kind of working together and 111 00:10:54,720 --> 00:11:01,200 kind of playing up that super couple angle and then like surely thereafter Becky was moved off 112 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:06,880 into something else so it's it's it's it can be done and then you can always bring it back because 113 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:12,160 you know they're not those two aren't the only married couples in WWE you got Montez de Biawga, 114 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:18,960 Naomi and Big Jam like you can always circle back and do another marriage rivalry if you 115 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:23,840 want to down the line. Dr. Shrey I mean this is could be a show in itself but it's going to be a very 116 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:29,680 quick discussion here but when AJ Lee returned I don't know why this did it for me as a viewer at 117 00:11:29,680 --> 00:11:34,000 home and we've talked about this many a times here on the podcast over the last several years 118 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:40,000 but when she was added on to the roster here I was like this may be one of the best women's 119 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:46,560 divisions top down, Raw Smackdown NXT I've ever seen from WWE's standpoint and then I took 120 00:11:46,560 --> 00:11:53,600 it a step further I was like this could be one of the greatest rosters in WWE history and I know 121 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:58,400 it's like well why would you think this was like just the addition of AJ Lee but it was just the 122 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:03,440 because I did not foresee this happening two weeks ago and I certainly did not foresee it happening 123 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:08,400 a week ago like this would be a full-time performer back in the company but when you get an opportunity 124 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:14,880 to take a look at this all and you're like there is some serious serious talent like there are women's 125 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:20,160 feuds that could take place that don't need titles there are matches that could take place that 126 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:24,800 don't need champion chips their storylines that could take place that don't need titles I mean top 127 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:31,120 down this may be one of the greatest rosters ever assembled and it's just like when you add another 128 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:34,800 big name to the roster you're like holy shit I'm watching something special right now 129 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:43,440 yeah I mean you can look at the roster and as you're saying that I hadn't thought of that 130 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:51,520 because we've been so fixated on how good the NXT when the roster has been that we lost I guess it 131 00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:58,720 says we kind of took the main roster for granted but when you look at that main roster like 132 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:05,840 how many future or current Hall of Famers do you see I mean you got Nicky's a Hall of Famer AJ is 133 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:15,680 going to be a Hall of Famer Charlotte Bagley Alexa like I mean there's probably potentially ten 134 00:13:15,680 --> 00:13:20,880 future Hall of Famers on this roster and those are the only ones that have been in with the company 135 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:27,360 seven years enough and then you look at the younger talent on the roster the Lyra's the 136 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:34,640 Roxanne's the Roles you know the people like that you're like man from top to bottom it is absolutely 137 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:42,800 loaded and just the sheer volume like you can say like NXT's roster is really really good as well 138 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:50,080 but that's also being based on like future projecting AW has you know Tony Storm in 139 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:55,520 excuse me Mercedes-Benz hey what's your obviously Hall of Fame caliber type performers but a 140 00:13:55,520 --> 00:14:01,680 lot of their stuff is also projection as well when you actually have the credibility that you have 141 00:14:01,680 --> 00:14:07,680 in WWE's women's division it's really hard to say that there's ever been a time where's been deeper 142 00:14:07,680 --> 00:14:12,400 I mean the only time you could probably say is you know that time when Lita and Trish were 143 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:18,320 actively part-time performing just because that was two more Hall of Famers on the roster but I don't 144 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:25,120 think the bottom end of the roster was as good as it is now yeah it's an amazing assembly of some of 145 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:30,400 the top names performers and up-and-comers and like you said I mean you could literally name off 146 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:35,120 probably ten Hall of Famers right now in the wins division and that's just a minimum the way 147 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:42,960 that their careers are are going right now it's an amazing roster that makes things 148 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:48,240 hard for the creative team because you want to include a lot of people that are very talented 149 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:54,960 involved at all times rather than sitting on the shelves for a period of time. Speaking of that 150 00:14:54,960 --> 00:15:00,000 episode of SmackDown where AJ Lee returned Dr. Tray it opened up with a John Cena segment his last 151 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:05,520 appearance on SmackDown full circle moment as he returned to the arena where he debuted against 152 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:11,440 Kurt Angle which was on an episode of SmackDown back in I think July 2022 which is to be July 2002 153 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:17,760 was either June or July 2002 and goes on proceed to have a match with Sammy Zayn US Open Challenge 154 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:23,840 and it is an absolute banger as the match is going on I'm like this may be in the discussion 155 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:28,480 if this match finishes because I'm as I'm watching the match live I'm like how are they going to do this 156 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:32,800 because I is Cena got to take an L on SmackDown and they're kind of like a passing on the torch to 157 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:37,120 to Zayn I don't know if they're going to do that on his way out are they going to put the title 158 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:44,240 on John Cena after Sammy Zayn just recently became US champion or is Lesnar going to interfere 159 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:49,840 and I did not want to see the third happen I wanted this to see it go the distance because I'm like 160 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:54,160 this is one that I think I could be talking about as as a match that you're can at least from on 161 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:59,840 a TV side perspective because it was so damn good and it was spreading out for multiple segments 162 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:05,120 and then Lesnar came out Dr. Tray and then he laid out both Sammy Zayn John Cena match ends in 163 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:13,360 in no contest so I ask you this did Lesnar's interference enhance the storyline he has right now with 164 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:21,120 John Cena or did it rob fans of a classic match between John Cena and Sammy Zayn both I mean both 165 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:27,600 things can be true like it furthers the storyline with John Cena because you know Brock comes out 166 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:32,720 takes him out you know the last time we really saw Brock and Cena and the ring together was what 167 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:40,640 summer slam 14 I think it was summer slam 15 when you know basically Cena got dog walked by John or 168 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:49,920 by Brock Lesnar yeah I mean obviously we always want to see kind of a clear finish and a who's 169 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:57,360 better than who type scenario but that's not what wrestling is wrestling the wins and losses really 170 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:03,920 don't matter what matters is the story so yeah fans got robbed of a clear cut winner but it did 171 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:09,600 like look I don't know how I'm not super excited about Lesnar and Cena that's just kind of like 172 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:17,280 my Brock Lesnar MO over the last 10 years but it does enhance the storyline so I think in that 173 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:24,000 situation both things are true which one would you prefer to have seen play out what to place or the 174 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:29,520 match finishing I'm fine with what happened like I didn't want Sammy taking the L I didn't want 175 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:35,440 John Cena taking the L and so it says you kind of book yourself into a quarter I did not like that 176 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:40,560 they said it was a no-contest because technically Sammy got attacked first which should have been a 177 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:46,320 DQ and then Sammy would have the DQ who went over John Cena and that I would have been okay with 178 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:51,280 but to call it no-contest I thought was just a cop out that's just the way of protecting the 179 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:56,960 storyline like everybody knew that he was out there to attack John Cena basically but I agree with 180 00:17:56,960 --> 00:18:02,240 you that's the old school fan in us it's the same thing that I had a couple months ago when the tap 181 00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:09,840 out or when the pass out was used to be just forever was three arms being dropped and dangled and then 182 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:14,880 they did it one time and that was and it was like wait what how did that happen and then you saw 183 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:20,640 the three drop downs of the arm when a sleeper holder something is being locked on return like 184 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:26,800 shortly thereafter so it was unfortunate see does ain't have we're having a banger on Smackdown 185 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:32,800 and Brock Lesnar came to interrupt it and we will preview his match with John Cena at WrestlePelus on 186 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:38,080 next week's edition of the show yes Dr. Trey I wanted to ask you a question like how does you feel 187 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:45,840 about Cena fusing out all the homages since he can't wrestle everybody but fusing out the end 188 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:52,800 of days fusing out a GTS fusing out of styles clash like how do you feel about him doing that does 189 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:59,840 it bother you or are you just in the mindset like okay I know why he's doing this so I'm okay with 190 00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:06,720 it in this scenario I loved it I dislike that commentary couldn't keep up I dislike that they 191 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:11,440 like I think they called the angle slam like a fallaway slam it's like nope that's that's an 192 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:16,960 angle slam and then when he's pulling the hair back like edge used to do when he did the spear and 193 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:22,160 Michael Cole's response was that to tribute to the big dog because they had so many matches I'm like 194 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:27,600 I don't remember I remember all match I don't remember so many matches I liked it I liked that he 195 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:32,480 did attribute I like that he did a hat tip to those guys because they were so important to them 196 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:38,080 in his career and I like that the fans wanted him to do an RKO and he did an audible on the fly I dug it 197 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:44,320 yeah I didn't like like we talked about like you know we don't think we're getting another scene 198 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:51,440 in AJ match which you know given AJ's weird in commercial break promo hey we fight but you know 199 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:57,600 certain guy like you're right like I mean Graves tried to correct Cole on the spear with the hair he 200 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:04,960 goes or someone else like he tried to allude to it but yeah I think it's a nice way to show 201 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:13,760 seeing a showing respect to those guys the funny thing is with the end of days only one person 202 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:21,040 ever kicked out the end of days now Sam is they technically makes it too wow so somewhere 203 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:28,480 Bishop Dwyer Baron Corbin Tom Kostik is smiling right he actually I think he actually came out 204 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:32,960 on Twitter and said what a great thing it was and how much it meant and that scene actually used it 205 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:38,000 it's it's cool that he played homage to the Smackdown runs that he had because I think if 206 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:45,440 fans like me I don't know about you Dr. Trey but that when they did the brand split in 2022 207 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:52,480 I keep saying 2022 2002 when they did the brand split a couple months later seen in debut that was 208 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:56,880 a very memorable time for me as a wrestling fan because the brand split was so cool and they took 209 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:02,320 it so seriously and you never really saw them do it again where wrestlers were kind of 210 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:06,400 you know they're interchangeable in the brands like you're seeing one week Jimmy Uses on Smackdown 211 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:11,200 the next week he's on Raw it's like there's no rhyme nor reason like they were legitimate two separate 212 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:16,080 brands there were pay-per-views that were this is Smackdown presents Raw presents and I really enjoyed 213 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:20,080 Smackdown because they were the underdog and they were putting on the better show whether it be 214 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:25,840 the Smackdown 6 or when the period of time when Cena debuted shortly thereafter Ray Mysterio 215 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:30,880 debuted and they made a big point that when Edge Ray Mysterio and John Cena like Clean House 216 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:34,960 of the UnAmericans in that cage match the night that Ray Mysterio debuted was like this is the 217 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:41,680 future of Smackdown and I always dug that time period of the show it was like 2002 to 2004 or 218 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:48,400 five-ish when Eddie was champion as well and when the Smackdown 6 tag teams were performing that was 219 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:52,880 a really cool time so I liked what they did back then or this past Friday from John Cena. 220 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:59,760 Yeah it's funny like Edge or Cena has got the end like do I think if John Cena has a raw guy or a 221 00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:05,200 Smackdown guy and I'm like it's tough because of that like yeah like for me I still think of 222 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:11,040 seeing it as a Smackdown guy because when he was on his rise it was on Smackdown and that was 223 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:17,600 a very impactful time of my life ironically Edge I think of Edge more as a raw guy and I think 224 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:21,600 a lot of it had to do with the Edge lead a mad hearty storyline. See that's funny I look at 225 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:27,120 him more as a Smackdown guy because that time period I just discussed and then like after 2006 7/8 226 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:31,360 when he was rated our superstar he was certainly on Raw for a little bit but I remember him 227 00:22:31,360 --> 00:22:38,000 feuding with Undertaker on Smackdown. Yeah the Vicki Guerrero storyline was on Smackdown yeah it's 228 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:44,960 in my yeah that might have flew me back as Edge being more Smackdown guy but like the live sex storyline 229 00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:48,720 was always like that was on Raw and that's to me one like the big highlights of this career. 230 00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:55,440 Well back in 2002 John Cena was deemed the future of Smackdown on an episode of the Blue Brand 231 00:22:55,440 --> 00:23:02,000 and now there are some people being acknowledged as the future of an entirely different brand in 232 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:08,560 organization A.W. Dr. Trey and that is one the current TNT champion Kyle Fletcher he is on a 233 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:14,400 rapid rise with singles wins and growing my confidence that you can make a case that his 234 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:19,920 Oceo open tag team partner Mark Davis who is also extremely talented is starting to become 235 00:23:19,920 --> 00:23:26,080 the marginetti of their tandem because Mark Davis is unfortunately out with injury again 236 00:23:26,080 --> 00:23:33,040 and just his rise has been really really fun to watch this is a guy that I always thought was 237 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:38,400 incredibly good like I thought he was extremely talented but I did not think he was that good 238 00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:42,480 and it's getting to the point where oddly enough I think his career is going to be comparable 239 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:48,400 and compare the rest of their careers to Will Osprey from their time working together in 240 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:56,560 New Japan and also carried over NAW for a little bit as well. Dr. Trey who is more likely to win the 241 00:23:56,560 --> 00:24:00,640 A.W. World Championship first now is it going to be Kyle Fletcher or Will Osprey? 242 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:10,960 I'm still going to go Osprey because he's the most brandable name so I think if Osprey doesn't 243 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:17,760 get it shortly after his return from surgery the longer it goes the odds then switch to Kyle Fletcher. 244 00:24:17,760 --> 00:24:22,080 Like I think Kyle Fletcher is extremely talented he's gotten better on the microphone he's 245 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:27,200 gotten really he's gotten really damn good at it my relationship with him is the hair like he just 246 00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:32,320 he looks like a bigger version of Tyson kid to me I don't know what he just I don't know if it's the 247 00:24:32,320 --> 00:24:36,240 hair the ears the fat I don't know what it is he just looks like a little bit bigger Tyson kid 248 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:43,760 but I mean it's growing on me more and more like he wears the pink as a no-mosh to the hearts 249 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:49,280 so like he's he's fantastic they're in it really does remind me of Will Osprey about 250 00:24:49,280 --> 00:24:55,360 eight nine years ago I think you and I were on the show and I said if Osprey puts on a little bit more 251 00:24:55,360 --> 00:25:00,800 size he could be a world champion and he actually went out for a little more size and now you see 252 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:07,920 where his career's gone not that Kyle has to put on any more size just the more experience he gets 253 00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:13,440 and the more higher profile matches he gets he's going to get better and better I think if I was 254 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:21,600 a betting man I would say 80% Osprey gets a world title first 20% Kyle Fletcher but if neither of them 255 00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:26,880 have it in the next 18 months I think those odds might flip obviously a big point of this is 256 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:32,640 is the injury to Will Osprey and how long he is going to be out for it balloons out there could be 257 00:25:32,640 --> 00:25:40,080 an entire year doctor try but he's going to be super hot when he returns oh yeah it's going to be 258 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:44,000 like we triple age came back from his quad tear it's gonna blow the roof off whatever building it's in 259 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:52,080 and you then need to strike while the iron is hot and you start planning the storyline for 260 00:25:52,080 --> 00:25:56,960 the updated return line where you're like okay we need to put the belts on you know a heel that 261 00:25:56,960 --> 00:26:02,320 everybody despises and then when Osprey comes back he's going to be super over we make the flip 262 00:26:02,320 --> 00:26:08,400 and see how he runs with the ball after that but that's that's kind of what the M.O. and wrestling 263 00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:13,360 has always been like the super hot like especially on like long term injuries they come back after a 264 00:26:13,360 --> 00:26:18,400 year they're immediately at the top of the card right in the world title picture so that's that's 265 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:23,280 kind of what I'm saying like if if Osprey doesn't get it in within 18 months especially like the first 266 00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:27,920 six months after he returns then I think the odds are shifting more towards Kyle Fletcher getting 267 00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:34,160 it first so with Kyle Fletcher he's in the world championship match for all out against hangman 268 00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:41,040 page which I think will be a really fun match here do you agree that this outlook that Kyle Fletcher 269 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:49,360 is the future of A.W. or is he more part of the future of A.W.? I think he's I don't know if he's 270 00:26:49,360 --> 00:26:55,280 the future because once again I like hearing him talk but I don't I'm not that point yet where like 271 00:26:55,280 --> 00:27:02,160 I have to hear everything he says you know to me he's not at the MJ left MJF level on promise like 272 00:27:02,160 --> 00:27:08,720 he's not there he's not there he may never get there but I mean is he if you think of when Edge is 273 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:16,000 first title run was like he wasn't a great promo guy in his first title run he got better over time 274 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:21,440 because he started to learn the value of you know selling the story verbally more than the in-ring stuff 275 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:29,280 I think that he is a big future of it but I don't know if he'll ever be the guy because I still 276 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:34,880 think other guys are just have a little more charisma than he does you don't think he is charisma? 277 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:41,920 no I didn't say he has none I just say that I think other guys have more there's just something about 278 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:49,440 him that it just screams star to me now when he comes on the screen like to me it's not you know 279 00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:54,160 they started we talked we started like during the day no grinder on the B plus players he's in A 280 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:58,240 minus guy to be right like he's a guy that yeah you can put the top of the car I just don't know if 281 00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:04,960 he's ever going to be the guy you know it's just you know swerve has more charisma 282 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:11,520 osprey has more charisma fletures just a slight tick below those guys 283 00:28:11,520 --> 00:28:19,680 interesting yeah it's it's been a really cool ascend because I felt like it's organic I think he is 284 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:24,000 very confident and it shows on the screen and it's been enjoying a watch call fletcher really 285 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:28,480 blossom because again I was someone I was like there's something with this kid just never knew 286 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:34,160 like if you go back to his match at all in were him and mark davis as acy open with the ROH 287 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:40,000 tag team champs and they took on MJF and Adam Cole on the pre show I mean fletcher is considerably 288 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:48,400 like maybe 30 40 pounds less weight than he is like now I mean he was not what he looks like in the 289 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:51,760 ring I mean he's really worked on his body he's worked on his mic skills he's worked on his in 290 00:28:51,760 --> 00:28:56,880 ring performance he is exuding confidence I think the pairing with Don Calis has been really fun to 291 00:28:56,880 --> 00:29:04,080 watch I am a fan of Kyle fletcher I am digging what he's doing and dare I say dr. Trey I think this 292 00:29:04,080 --> 00:29:10,000 is somebody that could like late 2026 early part of 2027 I think this is an AW world champion that 293 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:16,160 we're watching a send right now yeah now I like I said I agree I think he's in that in that 294 00:29:16,160 --> 00:29:22,240 consideration I mean you don't get a world title match at a pay-per-view unless they're looking to see 295 00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:27,760 if you have the goods to eventually pull it off like we've seen them with other guys in the past 296 00:29:27,760 --> 00:29:34,880 where like hey they'll get that title shot like on a B pay-per-view just to kind of see like hey can 297 00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:42,320 you can you run a main event can you attract viewers are our people if you're the heal our people 298 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:46,960 really want to see you get your ass kicked or hey is this a guy that we can see the fans kind of 299 00:29:46,960 --> 00:29:53,040 getting by and that's kind of where I think they're at with Kyle fletcher because wrestling wise he 300 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:58,880 wrestles a lot like a baby face like he's got the super athletic moves he does all the cool stuff 301 00:29:58,880 --> 00:30:05,680 you know and it's like okay is he gonna be our Seth Rollins where he can wrestle like a baby face 302 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:10,880 but still get that heat from the audience or is this a guy that we need to put on the baby face 303 00:30:10,880 --> 00:30:17,040 side because he wrestles so well it's hard for people to hate it but you kind of have to test it 304 00:30:17,040 --> 00:30:22,320 to see where it goes you can't just like blink and lee assume that hey this guy's got the goods to 305 00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:27,520 you know main event you know wimbley stadium in front of 70,000 people without actually testing it out 306 00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:32,480 virtually yeah it's it's fun to watch and it's like these one of those rare moments where you know 307 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:36,000 that somebody is on the verge of doing something big and that's the kind of the vibe I get right 308 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:42,160 now with Kyle fletcher which I enjoy as a wrestling fan going back to WWE doctor tre and this is 309 00:30:42,160 --> 00:30:50,160 something that I noticed pretty recently I tend to look at like wrestling any ticket prices when they 310 00:30:50,160 --> 00:30:55,040 come out just had a curiosity to see like how much they're running for what I give an opportunity 311 00:30:55,040 --> 00:30:59,840 to like go check it out check the show out whatever I actually most recently did this with summer slam 312 00:30:59,840 --> 00:31:05,760 seen well should I when I go to one or two shows it's not that bad of a drive and I wanted to go take a 313 00:31:05,760 --> 00:31:12,800 look and the ticket prices were astronomical and I saw a wrestle many of their and I did not pay 314 00:31:12,800 --> 00:31:18,880 what I pay what you would pay for like the last roll row at the very very top of the stadium and 315 00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:24,480 it's like this is insane and you tend to see this now more often with a lot of sports teams I just 316 00:31:24,480 --> 00:31:29,360 recently went through this when I was looking at Yankee tickets for 2026 as a Yankee fan it was the 317 00:31:29,360 --> 00:31:35,520 same thing and just this extravagment amount of money that you need to put out for these tickets where 318 00:31:35,520 --> 00:31:40,960 it reaches a point for a guy like myself I'm sure you feel the same way doctor tre where yeah I want 319 00:31:40,960 --> 00:31:45,760 to experience this but I can experience it and get a better view of my own home as well especially 320 00:31:45,760 --> 00:31:55,360 the older I get and it being very choosy with how I spend my money and then I saw this interview or 321 00:31:55,360 --> 00:32:00,400 I don't know if it was like a press conference that Goldman Sachs was was holding was a Goldman Sachs 322 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:08,400 conference that TKO president Mark Shapiro was at and spoke about TKO business and he said Vintzik 323 00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:14,400 Man historically kept ticket prices accessible to encourage whole families to attend shows together 324 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:21,040 he emphasized that Vince wasn't focused on maximizing ticket prices while TKO intends to aggressively 325 00:32:21,040 --> 00:32:26,880 raise yields Shapiro pointed out that UFC events consistently break records for ticket revenue 326 00:32:26,880 --> 00:32:34,000 setting the standard TKO wants WWE to match WWE's 59% second quarter margin highlights that higher 327 00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:40,800 sight fees and ticket yields are already boosting profitability with that said doctor tre and I guess 328 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:47,840 this is already happened is dough to be risking its family first tradition by chasing UFC style ticket 329 00:32:47,840 --> 00:32:54,320 revenue under TKO and are we shocked that we're talking about Vintzik Man glowingly where he was 330 00:32:54,320 --> 00:32:58,880 actually trying to do a say solid to allow us and our families to enjoy a wrestling show 331 00:32:58,880 --> 00:33:06,880 yeah I mean what I worry about with WWE is that they're going to run in the same problem at 332 00:33:06,880 --> 00:33:14,320 Major League Baseball in the NFL have ran into where like yeah it's cost prohibitive to take your 333 00:33:14,320 --> 00:33:19,680 entire family out to gain now the upside about baseball and you know this look you can get Yankees 334 00:33:19,680 --> 00:33:26,720 tickets when they're playing uh let's like the nationals right now super cheap right because it's just 335 00:33:26,720 --> 00:33:31,920 nobody wants to go see the nationals at Yankee Stadium so you can still on days like that because 336 00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:38,320 there's more available dates making outing with the family to not be super expensive but you know 337 00:33:38,320 --> 00:33:43,760 Jeff you're not taking the wife in Luke and then you know the potential future child of peck 338 00:33:43,760 --> 00:33:49,280 to a Yankee Red Sox game on a Friday night at 7 o'clock because the ticket price 339 00:33:49,280 --> 00:33:54,640 is going to be outrageous and that's why baseball lost a generation of fans because 340 00:33:54,640 --> 00:33:59,520 kids just weren't able to go to the games the NFL runs into that now we're like yeah they're selling 341 00:33:59,520 --> 00:34:05,840 out but they're selling out to corporations who are buying luxury seats and 50 yard line tickets for 342 00:34:05,840 --> 00:34:11,840 company outing that they can expense it's not the family of five going to watch the Packers at 343 00:34:11,840 --> 00:34:18,320 Lambo anymore and I worry that WWE is going to run that same route where Vintz looked at it as in 344 00:34:18,320 --> 00:34:25,040 the same way I look at it with independent wrestling I play to the kids because the kids stay fans 345 00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:31,440 for life and that's how you build longevity in the brand is that loyalty that you're in in 346 00:34:31,440 --> 00:34:38,400 doctorated to as a child with raising the prices like kids don't have the attention span is sit down 347 00:34:38,400 --> 00:34:43,040 and watch two and a half hours of Monday night raw right now they kind of do like everybody else 348 00:34:43,040 --> 00:34:47,440 says which is like hey we'll go watch some clips we'll go watch some highlights and then tune in for 349 00:34:47,440 --> 00:34:52,960 the May review like you and I growing up Monday night raw we sat through the whole thing good bad 350 00:34:52,960 --> 00:34:59,920 indifferent spark plug sparky plug you know one two three kid generation don't the clown deal hopper 351 00:34:59,920 --> 00:35:05,920 we sat through all of that stuff because we were in doctorated as a kid to how great wrestling was 352 00:35:05,920 --> 00:35:11,360 if you start pricing everything out of everybody's range you're gonna start losing general like future 353 00:35:11,360 --> 00:35:17,040 generations of wrestling. Yeah that's what's really disappointing for me doctor Tre is the 354 00:35:17,040 --> 00:35:28,560 fact that because they're so successful right now they are more likely to push their bottom dollar 355 00:35:28,560 --> 00:35:33,760 rather than do the right thing for the fans that support them and you're seeing that more and 356 00:35:33,760 --> 00:35:38,400 more with streaming the amount of streaming packages that you need to purchase to be a wrestling 357 00:35:38,400 --> 00:35:45,440 fan nowadays is out of control there was a video over the weekend of a tick-tock user that 358 00:35:45,440 --> 00:35:51,840 was at the Halloween Horror Nights in Universal Studios Florida and there's one of the haunted 359 00:35:51,840 --> 00:36:00,160 houses is tied to the the wide six and he ran into Nikon and said to him like the ticket prices are 360 00:36:00,160 --> 00:36:05,760 so high and Nikon was like I understand and then you've got days later Mark Shapiro coming out and 361 00:36:05,760 --> 00:36:12,960 saying like we want to push the ticket price is higher it's really unfortunate because that's what pushes 362 00:36:12,960 --> 00:36:21,360 and I'm not poor I'm not rich I am your average middle American with a family a wife and kid 363 00:36:21,360 --> 00:36:30,720 we both work and whenever money we have we we like to from time to time spending on entertainment 364 00:36:30,720 --> 00:36:36,880 purposes I debated would I make the trek into Madison Square Garden and go watch John Cena's final 365 00:36:36,880 --> 00:36:40,400 appearance on Monday night we're on I was like you know what it's probably not worth it because 366 00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:47,520 those ticket prices are probably astronomical for a poor section of the the arena like a section 367 00:36:47,520 --> 00:36:52,720 that is just as a poor viewing and and I'm I'm really high up and do I really want to be part of that 368 00:36:52,720 --> 00:37:01,040 I don't I like to go into wrestling shows when I could and I didn't like breaking the bank to do that 369 00:37:01,040 --> 00:37:06,720 so it's very unfortunate to see this come out like that and the fact that these are statements that 370 00:37:06,720 --> 00:37:12,080 fans like you and I can read and then also then discuss on this podcast makes you wonder like what 371 00:37:12,080 --> 00:37:17,440 the hell are they doing like we just want to continue to expand money I mean that is a successful 372 00:37:17,440 --> 00:37:22,800 business model they'll make their stocks stockholders happy but the longevity of it as you point 373 00:37:22,800 --> 00:37:27,360 out to dr. Trey is a little bit of the unknown right now I mean do they just think all of their 374 00:37:27,360 --> 00:37:31,440 fans are suckers and they'll just keep coming back for more and more and more as of right now we are 375 00:37:31,440 --> 00:37:39,280 because the arenas are being filled so I guess until the arenas aren't filled and is when they will 376 00:37:39,280 --> 00:37:45,200 listen again there's a really cool business model out there I'm sure you're familiar with Savannah 377 00:37:45,200 --> 00:37:51,920 bananas the the baseball team that goes around they are they literally call themselves fans first 378 00:37:51,920 --> 00:37:59,280 and for like really high seats it's 40 bucks even they pay the taxes all the processing fees the team 379 00:37:59,280 --> 00:38:08,640 handles next level 60 bucks VIP level 100 bucks and they are selling out 45,000 seat baseball stadiums 380 00:38:08,640 --> 00:38:14,400 dr. Trey like I don't understand why that can't be successful as well for even wrestling promotions 381 00:38:14,400 --> 00:38:20,560 no it absolutely can be but when you're the biggest difference is and this is that is when 382 00:38:20,560 --> 00:38:26,160 we would convince the random company for the majority of those years first of what tko it does 383 00:38:26,160 --> 00:38:31,600 they're not beholden to stockholders that all they're beholden to is are we making a profit are we 384 00:38:31,600 --> 00:38:36,800 making enough money to pay everybody what we tell them we're going to pay them and are we you know 385 00:38:36,800 --> 00:38:40,880 the owners are they making a little bit of money to keep this thing going forward you know that's 386 00:38:40,880 --> 00:38:45,920 one of his why Vince kind of kept the price low because he was building longevity but he was still 387 00:38:45,920 --> 00:38:51,040 making enough money to make sure everybody was good you know Vince didn't become a billionaire 388 00:38:51,040 --> 00:38:57,360 until they went public he was always just millionaire Vince until the company went public and like I 389 00:38:57,360 --> 00:39:01,760 have a friend of mine that's one of the male cheerleaders for the Savannah bananas and he's like yeah 390 00:39:01,760 --> 00:39:09,760 we we're well taken care of the owners like really gracious about that stuff um but yeah like they could 391 00:39:09,760 --> 00:39:16,480 obviously milk it for more and sell VIP sweet seating and corporate seating and all of that stuff 392 00:39:16,480 --> 00:39:22,560 and really maximize their profits but once again they're trying to build longevity they're trying 393 00:39:22,560 --> 00:39:30,400 to become the Harlem Globe traitors of baseball and create that brand loyalty that last 50 60 years 394 00:39:30,400 --> 00:39:35,440 where it becomes an event there we want to go see when those guys are in your town so that business 395 00:39:35,440 --> 00:39:41,520 model can be successful but I think it's if you're a private company and not beholden to stockholders 396 00:39:41,520 --> 00:39:47,360 because the stockholders just wants to you maximize profits you know it's funny we all were voting 397 00:39:47,360 --> 00:39:52,080 and rooting on fits are being not being involved with the company one way or another creative team maybe 398 00:39:52,080 --> 00:39:59,360 even owning it fans were and I agree with this business model that he wanted to keep it pretty well 399 00:39:59,360 --> 00:40:05,520 tight for family so that they could attend and it's unfortunate that WWE is losing that site because 400 00:40:05,520 --> 00:40:12,560 that's what made it so successful was that they did put families first so unfortunate but not a 401 00:40:12,560 --> 00:40:17,120 surprise when it comes to today's corporations and what they're trying to do in in a lot of different 402 00:40:17,120 --> 00:40:23,040 areas and avenues of of entertainment that we all know and love in this in this world of ours 403 00:40:23,040 --> 00:40:30,400 speaking of which uh WWE reportedly is going to be bringing WrestleMania 43 to Saudi Arabia 404 00:40:31,120 --> 00:40:36,720 in 2027 down to trade that is the report out there right now this would be the first WrestleMania 405 00:40:36,720 --> 00:40:41,600 held outside of North America obviously huge financial implications for the Saudi partnership it 406 00:40:41,600 --> 00:40:47,520 raises question to mal about fan travel times owning global TV deals um the rumblings out there right 407 00:40:47,520 --> 00:40:53,200 now is that Saudi Arabia is willing to pay any price possible to bring back people out of retirement 408 00:40:53,200 --> 00:40:58,720 like they want to put on an absolute show so this could be more like the early stages of crown jewel 409 00:40:58,720 --> 00:41:02,960 than the WrestleMania that we're tend to use to there's also been some discussions that they 410 00:41:02,960 --> 00:41:08,800 may do to WrestleMania is in one year which is lame to me uh so that they do WrestleMania United States 411 00:41:08,800 --> 00:41:17,280 does it moving WrestleMania overseas to Saudi Arabia grow WWE's brand doctor tray or does it risk 412 00:41:17,280 --> 00:41:26,160 alienating core fans that they have I mean for the for the long time fans of the diars like us it's 413 00:41:26,160 --> 00:41:32,720 irritating like it kind of pisses me off when I read that um and not so much that it's just Saudi 414 00:41:32,720 --> 00:41:38,480 Arabia it's kind of because it is the first one not in North America is in Saudi Arabia like you 415 00:41:38,480 --> 00:41:43,920 look at these Paris crowds you look at these London crowds I'm like yeah they really should have gone 416 00:41:43,920 --> 00:41:49,680 there first and then do a Saudi show like we're we've gotten used to doing the Saudi shows now a little 417 00:41:49,680 --> 00:41:56,400 bit but yeah it's disappointing because you know it's just like okay let the European guys have a 418 00:41:56,400 --> 00:42:02,960 first because they kind of deserve it then you can do a Saudi one uh two WrestleMania's in one year 419 00:42:02,960 --> 00:42:07,760 deletes it's like having two super balls in one year like it just doesn't make sense like there's 420 00:42:07,760 --> 00:42:14,160 a reason why it's an event because it only happens once a year and it goes all out for it so 421 00:42:15,040 --> 00:42:20,720 like I'm against it but here's the thing I think the day we're all gonna watch it just because it is 422 00:42:20,720 --> 00:42:26,320 WrestleMania and doesn't really matter where it is because we're just so invested in the story 423 00:42:26,320 --> 00:42:30,960 and the product that we're going to tune in no matter where it is yeah it's WrestleMania right I'm 424 00:42:30,960 --> 00:42:35,360 not surprised by this auditory I honestly either way if this was going I'm not sure that this is 425 00:42:35,360 --> 00:42:42,960 happening no not all yeah I would have loved to see it like it London first before Saudi Arabia 426 00:42:44,160 --> 00:42:49,200 yeah but you know I mean when you're talking about the fact that the Saudis can grow I mean Jeff I 427 00:42:49,200 --> 00:42:56,320 mean literally like there's not a number they can't come up with and as a company it's like yeah 428 00:42:56,320 --> 00:43:01,440 we're probably gonna take a PR hit but look at how much money's gonna come in that's what companies do 429 00:43:01,440 --> 00:43:08,880 unfortunately you know so if I mean you're talking probably I mean if they were projecting you know 430 00:43:09,440 --> 00:43:15,840 500 million in revenue I don't you know how much they generate revenue anymore but I mean half it 431 00:43:15,840 --> 00:43:22,960 could probably come from this WrestleMania alone like it's really hard to say no to that but just as 432 00:43:22,960 --> 00:43:30,880 you know historical fans lifelong fans is just it's kind of like you know A.W. 433 00:43:30,880 --> 00:43:37,040 Least went to London and did their biggest show there like couldn't W.D. at least do WrestleMania 434 00:43:37,040 --> 00:43:45,360 London first and then do the Saudi one second and still make the shit ton of money yeah I guess we'll 435 00:43:45,360 --> 00:43:49,760 see how this all plays out Dr. Tre I'm sure an announcement is coming by the time we we record next 436 00:43:49,760 --> 00:43:55,200 weeks in this then show because reportedly a press release in Arabic was sent out on Wednesday 437 00:43:55,200 --> 00:43:59,680 and then immediately pulled back because it was done as a mistake and now seeing that WrestleMania 438 00:43:59,680 --> 00:44:06,320 43 would be held in Saudi Arabia so I expect by next week's show we're probably talking about it 439 00:44:06,320 --> 00:44:10,720 and the test run will be Royal Rumble 2026 because that's where it's going to be this year's in Saudi 440 00:44:10,720 --> 00:44:14,960 Arabia and we'll see how the how they handle it so the first time they've held a pay-per-view 441 00:44:14,960 --> 00:44:20,960 that we were used to in Saudi Arabia a elimination chamber was held over there at one time 442 00:44:20,960 --> 00:44:28,800 you know when you have the the big four of Royal Rumble Mania Summer Slam Survivor Series 443 00:44:28,800 --> 00:44:33,680 held in one of those spots that has a little bit of a deeper meaning look at it so 444 00:44:34,880 --> 00:44:41,200 WrestleMania 43 reportedly coming to Saudi Arabia in 2027 more on that story as it develops 445 00:44:41,200 --> 00:44:44,640 and then the last thing I want to bring up here on this week's edition the show Dr. Tre I'm really 446 00:44:44,640 --> 00:44:50,480 looking forward to this show next week NXT homecoming at full sale university it returns to its 447 00:44:50,480 --> 00:44:56,240 original home and creates an nostalgia and intimacy intimate feel with the fan base it has a 448 00:44:56,240 --> 00:45:01,520 chance for a current roster to shine in a classic setting obviously it's going to feature guest 449 00:45:01,520 --> 00:45:08,640 appearances it's could have some surprise guest appearances surprise people making a return to 450 00:45:08,640 --> 00:45:15,120 NXT possibly you've got DIY taken on trick mellow gang as they reunite you've got fatal influence 451 00:45:15,120 --> 00:45:21,280 taken on rear-ripply Stephanie Valkour and Tiffany Stratton you've got Tyler Breeze taking on 452 00:45:21,280 --> 00:45:27,520 Ethan Page for the North American Championship they teased appearances of Triple H William Riegel 453 00:45:27,520 --> 00:45:34,240 the Street Profits Bianca Belair I went to two shows at full sale university one was a like 454 00:45:34,240 --> 00:45:40,720 month-long tape being of NXT the other was when they were live in 2019 from one of the shows I think 455 00:45:40,720 --> 00:45:48,080 it was headline by Keith Lee and Roddy Strong if I remember correctly for North American champion 456 00:45:48,080 --> 00:45:52,960 to remember Bayley made an appearance on that show laying someone out as it was hyping up 457 00:45:52,960 --> 00:45:58,240 survivancy of 2019 really enjoyed going on those shows it was a really cool place to watch the 458 00:45:58,240 --> 00:46:04,720 shows does NXT returning to full sale university this Tuesday give you all the feels of the good times 459 00:46:04,720 --> 00:46:12,480 dr. Tre yeah it brings back to the style like that so full sale like I actually really 460 00:46:12,480 --> 00:46:16,320 would try to get my daughter to go to school there because she's a grad that's what you want to do 461 00:46:16,320 --> 00:46:21,440 at one point was be going to like graphic arts design and that's kind of what full sales known for 462 00:46:21,440 --> 00:46:27,040 but it was also that at that point full sales still the taping area for NXT and I was like oh I go 463 00:46:27,040 --> 00:46:34,320 visit my kid and see an NXT show so it would it worked out but yeah it's it's one of the top four or 464 00:46:34,320 --> 00:46:42,000 five venues that you think of when it comes to WWE in a way like when I think of NXT I think of 465 00:46:42,000 --> 00:46:47,600 taping the full sale more than any other place even over the PC or anything like that like that's 466 00:46:48,320 --> 00:46:55,920 kind of where picture just like you picture you see done like under arena like you picture 467 00:46:55,920 --> 00:47:03,040 and CNA you know in Nashville at the fairgrounds or down in Orlando do the tapings there like there 468 00:47:03,040 --> 00:47:09,920 are just certain spots that feel like home and in full sale definitely to me is always the home 469 00:47:09,920 --> 00:47:16,560 of NXT what is your favorite home arena that brings you the most nostalgia 470 00:47:16,560 --> 00:47:26,320 man it might be the Nashville fairgrounds for T&A there's been so many like that's when T&A first 471 00:47:26,320 --> 00:47:30,880 started there but then it was also the home of like a lot of small independent promotions in the 472 00:47:30,880 --> 00:47:37,760 Tennessee area it's either that one or what's the arena name in Atlanta where they did all the 473 00:47:37,760 --> 00:47:44,080 center stage yeah center stage because that's where they did a lot of the Saturday night tapings back 474 00:47:44,080 --> 00:47:50,640 when 6.5 on the mother's year maybe we like that's those two are probably at my top too 475 00:47:50,640 --> 00:47:57,520 mine is the Manhattan Center in New York City where the first several months of raw were held like 476 00:47:57,520 --> 00:48:04,080 well I when they went back for raw 25 I was super hyped for it and then you know they barely 477 00:48:04,080 --> 00:48:10,160 did anything in that arena I am shocked NXT has not gone there I'm shocked that AWS has gone there 478 00:48:10,160 --> 00:48:14,880 I love when AWS in the Hammer sign which is right down below literally in the same building of the 479 00:48:14,880 --> 00:48:19,680 Manhattan Center Hammer signs another one but that's I'm kind of being like for my territory for 480 00:48:19,680 --> 00:48:25,520 this but I'm I'm super hyped for full sell you sell university doctor I think this is going to be 481 00:48:25,520 --> 00:48:31,520 a really good viewership boost for NXT you've got we also got Izzy Dame 482 00:48:31,520 --> 00:48:39,920 and taking on a Tade in Paxley taking on Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss for the women's 483 00:48:39,920 --> 00:48:46,800 acting championship like it's it's going to be a fun show and it that may be in the history of this 484 00:48:46,800 --> 00:48:53,760 podcast Dr. Trey that period of time when you could watch NXT on the WWE Network the black and gold 485 00:48:53,760 --> 00:49:02,640 there like 14 2014 to 2019 may be some of my favorite shows we've ever covered like NXT takeovers 486 00:49:02,640 --> 00:49:09,760 gave me a sense of excitement that was lost for a period of time as a wrestling fan like it renewed 487 00:49:09,760 --> 00:49:16,160 that spirit of like I'm really excited love the crowd reactions love the in-ring stuff you found 488 00:49:16,160 --> 00:49:21,120 you like found all these guys that were doing different things that they were doing the WWE 489 00:49:21,120 --> 00:49:26,080 main roster at that period of time like I think at least in the history of the show I think that 490 00:49:26,080 --> 00:49:34,240 NXT black and gold brand of 14 to 19 maybe my favorite stuff we ever covered so I'm like super excited 491 00:49:34,240 --> 00:49:39,840 for the show full sale so does does the black and gold Eric is when you guys for when you and Eric 492 00:49:39,840 --> 00:49:45,360 first start the show you guys were really hot on a ring of honor and that was the generico steam 493 00:49:45,360 --> 00:49:53,520 Tyler black age of the fall like that was that era so which which do you rank higher black and 494 00:49:53,520 --> 00:50:02,560 gold or that that era of ring of honor so I loved steam and genericos feud more than I loved like 495 00:50:02,560 --> 00:50:08,480 the ROH brand like I do the NXT brand if that makes sense like the feud yeah the best feud I think we've 496 00:50:08,480 --> 00:50:17,520 ever covered on this show oh steam in a generico I think almost second to that may be like Drew McAter 497 00:50:17,520 --> 00:50:23,600 and CM Punk like a very distant second like I really enjoyed that feud but as a brand as a full show 498 00:50:23,600 --> 00:50:28,800 that you would like watch every single week and be happy and excited and watch an NXT takeover be 499 00:50:28,800 --> 00:50:31,920 happy and excited like there was a period of time where I was like I don't think we've ever great in 500 00:50:31,920 --> 00:50:36,160 NXT takeover less than a four and you look at some of those match the years we did for each one 501 00:50:36,160 --> 00:50:41,040 of those years for a period of time and they were coming from NXT takeover shows I think the best 502 00:50:41,040 --> 00:50:46,880 brand I've ever watched during this show was that NXT black and gold brand yeah the only thing that to 503 00:50:46,880 --> 00:50:55,360 me rival it was and you could like you have to take trade for was that late 90s ECW run because 504 00:50:55,360 --> 00:51:01,440 you saw stuff there that nobody else was doing and that's kind of what kind of a fed the the fervor 505 00:51:01,440 --> 00:51:09,200 for that black and gold brand was that was the closest thing to ECW it was ECW without the language 506 00:51:09,200 --> 00:51:15,680 in a lot of ways like we saw like I still remember Keith Lee counting Adam Cole like four four rows 507 00:51:15,680 --> 00:51:20,560 into the crowd like certain things like that we were like oh my god that was fantastic and some 508 00:51:20,560 --> 00:51:27,040 of the matches and I don't know if you saw the backstage little interview with Tyler Breeze after 509 00:51:27,040 --> 00:51:32,480 after the last NXT show but they're back there like Stevie Turner and the first thing she brought up was 510 00:51:32,480 --> 00:51:38,960 you know Tyler Breeze and Jujan Thunder Liker and that was stuff that you're like I can't believe 511 00:51:38,960 --> 00:51:43,680 they're putting this on NXT does Vince know they're doing this like they got away with a lot of stuff 512 00:51:43,680 --> 00:51:48,960 that you know because Vince just wasn't really paying attention to it until it got hot and then he 513 00:51:48,960 --> 00:51:56,800 had to put his amperens all over it make it 2.0 yeah it was the bad times for sure so I'm going to 514 00:51:56,800 --> 00:52:01,360 look forward to it at NXT home coming this Tuesday we'll take a look back at that if there's anything 515 00:52:01,360 --> 00:52:06,320 worth talking about on next week's edition of SRTU with that said let's get a couple plugs and 516 00:52:06,320 --> 00:52:11,120 sponsored out of the way you could download the show every Thursday or Friday at realguymeanie.com 517 00:52:11,120 --> 00:52:15,600 russicchattenatonx and the still wrote a show feed on apple spot on fire every down those podcasts 518 00:52:15,600 --> 00:52:21,120 you get support us at patreon.com/srtupodcast you get the show at free and immediately available to 519 00:52:21,120 --> 00:52:26,560 you and of course all the great exclusives that are up on our patreon page don't forget to 520 00:52:26,560 --> 00:52:30,800 rate review and subscribe as the algorithm is king that helps us out on all those podcast platforms 521 00:52:30,800 --> 00:52:35,760 wherever you got this show you can follow us individually on extra myself at SRTU Jeff and for 522 00:52:35,760 --> 00:52:41,040 Dr. Shrek Franklin at the Dr. Trey of course don't forget to follow the show on x@srtupodcast 523 00:52:41,040 --> 00:52:46,400 with that be it said what is going on the wonderful world of dr. Shrek Franklin this week well like 524 00:52:46,400 --> 00:52:52,000 jib said you can follow me on x@ddrtrey you can find me on facebook and instagram just search out 525 00:52:52,000 --> 00:52:56,400 old drtrey Franklin when you're on facebook check out rock and city championship wrestling we just had 526 00:52:56,400 --> 00:53:04,080 a really big show this past Saturday night next one's coming up on september 20th so be sure to check 527 00:53:04,080 --> 00:53:09,840 out all those with that they post the full show you can want you can hear me doing play by play 528 00:53:10,480 --> 00:53:17,760 commentary ring announcing the whole nine yards for you know two and a half hours if you guys tune in 529 00:53:17,760 --> 00:53:23,840 the show but most importantly but there's sports sports are all love really dependent wrestling show 530 00:53:23,840 --> 00:53:30,000 where they still try to make sense really is still trying to get and they're not all about the 531 00:53:30,000 --> 00:53:34,640 bottom dollar and alienating fan bases yeah there you go support all the great things that support 532 00:53:34,640 --> 00:53:41,920 srt and again support this podcast over at patreon.com/srtupodcast join us next week we'll preview 533 00:53:41,920 --> 00:53:48,400 predict AW all out or preview predict WBC wrestle preview wrestle polusa and more enjoy the weekend 534 00:53:48,400 --> 00:53:54,320 stay safe enjoy in some professional wrestling save your money for wrestling tickets 535 00:53:54,320 --> 00:54:00,240 and until next week for dr. ray Franklin i am Jeff pack this has been the stirrold us show